MIDDLETOWN >> A city man has received a misdemeanor summons for allegedly pepper-spraying a man who he says sexually assaulted him.

52-year-old Vern Scrivano, of 66 Liberty Street, is facing one count of breach of peace after allegedly emptying a can of Smith and Wesson pepper spray into another city man’s face.

The victim hailed officers shortly before 10 p.m. on Oct 20, telling them that he had been walking near Frazier Avenue, a dead-end road off Liberty Street in the North End, when an older white man with a cane “said ‘hi,’ sprayed him with an unknown substance and then said, ‘you gave me a disease, now call the cops,’” police said.

His face burning, the victim walked home and washed himself off, then walked over to Main and Liberty streets, where he found police officers. He pointed officers to Scrivano’s apartment on Liberty Street, and Scrivano told them the victim ,“lunged towards him, saying, ‘I’m gonna get you,’” and that Scrivano “had a small can of pepper spray in his hand and sprayed him in the face,” police said.

“Scrivano said he remembers this male from one and a half years ago when he sexually assaulted him, which he did not report. Scrivano said he gave him a disease that night,” police said.